Lichfield District Within The West Midlands Region

Figure 1: Lichfield District within the West Midlands Region

Contents Page

Map – Lichfield District within the West Midlands region 2

Contents 3

Figures and Tables 4

Executive Summary 6

Core Output Indicators – Summary 9

Introduction 10

Structure of the AMR 10

Implementation of the LDS 11

Spatial Portrait of Lichfield District - Description and map 13

District Infrastructure - Description and map 14

Lichfield District Key Statistics- People and Society 15

Education 16

Economy and Employment 16

Housing 18

Crime 19

Indicators

Business Development 21

Housing 25

Transport 31

Local Services 35

Flood Protection and Water Quality 39

Biodiversity 41

Renewable Energy 46

Tourism 46

Historic Environment 47

Glossary 48

2 Figures Page

Figure 1 – Lichfield District within the West Midlands Region 2

Figure 2 – Spatial Portrait of Lichfield District 13

Figure 3 – District Infrastructure 14

Figure 4 – Employment by Sector 16

Figure 5 – Average House Prices 18

Figure 6 – Crimes per 1,000 Population 19

Figure 7 - Employment Land Status 23

Figure 8 – Housing Trajectory, Actual and Projected Completions 26

Figure 9 – Housing Trajectory, Cumulative Allocations and Completions 27

Tables

Table 1 – Summary of Core Output Indicators 9

Table 2 – Targets for the Implementation of the LDS 11-12

Key Statistics

Table 3 – People and Society 15

Table 4 – Education 16

Table 5 – Economy: Average Income 17

Table 6 – Housing: Average House Prices 18

Table 7 – Crime: Crimes per 1000 20

Indicators

Table 8 – Developed Land 21

Table 9 – Loss of Land 21

Table 10 – Employment Land Supply 22

Table 11 – Employment Land Status 22

Table 12 – Employment Location 23

3 Tables Continued…

Table 13 – Housing Core Indicators 25

Table 14 – Housing Need 28

Table 15 – Affordable Housing 29

Table 16 – Transport Core Indicators 31

Table 17-19 – Accessibility of New Development 31-32

Table 20-21 – Sustainable Transport 32

Table 22 – Bus Service Accessibility 33

Table 23 – Other Transport 33

Table 24 – Development of services 35

Table 25 – Green Flag Award 35

Table 26 – Retail and Leisure 36

Table 27 – Rural Services 36

Table 28 – Open Space 37

Table 29 – Quality of Open Space 37

Table 30 – Urban Open Space 37

Table 31 – Flood Protection 39

Table 32 – Water Quality 39

Table 33 – Biodiversity Core Indicators 41

Table 34 – Areas of Designation 41

Table 35 – Local Biodiversity 42

Table 36 – Quality of SSSI’s 42

Table 37 – Landscape 44

Table 38 – Tree Preservation 44

Table 39 – Works on Trees 46

Table 40 – Renewable Energy 47

Table 41 - Historical Environment

4 Executive Summary

The purpose of Lichfield District Council’s Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) is to:

• Monitor the effectiveness of its policies in relation to national and local targets and;

• Monitor the Local Authority’s progress in putting it’s Local Development Framework (LDF) spatial policies in place

The AMR also monitors related core indicators and local indicators for which data is available. A number of key issues have been highlighted across the range of Indicators:

The AMR describes the progress that the Council has made in preparing a Local Development Framework. It does this by making reference to the approved Local Development Scheme (LDS). Monitoring shows that the authority achieved all the key milestones for the 2005/2006 financial year. However, Lichfield District Council will now have to revise the LDS to take account of the Inspector’s decision on the examined Core Strategy, which led to the withdrawal of all submitted Development Plan Documents. The Council and needs to carry out further work on several issues before a revised Core Strategy can be re-submitted.

Monitoring has not identified any specific issues that suggest an urgent need to bring forward additional land for development, other than in relation to town centres. However, the forthcoming partial review of the Regional Spatial Strategy is likely to have significant implications for the review of the Core Strategy.

Employment – What’s happening?

• The district has a large bank of land with permission for the main employment types of B1, B2 and B8, although this is concentrated on a few large sites.

• All land developed and under construction for employment is on previously developed land.

• The Districts’ unemployment levels are well below the regional and national average but workers continue to commute outside the District in significant numbers for particular types of jobs.

• No offices were constructed in town centre locations.

What do we need to do?

• The West Midlands Regional Centres Study prepared to inform the review of the Regional Spatial Strategy concluded that there was a substantial need for more offices in the strategic centre of Lichfield in the period up to 2021. This analysis needs to be taken into account in the preparation of future strategies and the production of the Local Development Framework.

• There is the ongoing need to address the out commuting of workers to particular types of employment such as office based professional jobs. Again this will need to be incorporated into emerging strategies and policies.

5

Housing – What’s happening?

• House prices continue to be the highest in the County.

• Studies show that accommodation in the District is not affordable for particular sectors. A single person on an average wage cannot afford to live alone.

• The housing trajectory shows a probable over provision of homes, in relation to the RSS until 2013, followed by a shortfall thereafter when set against Staffordshire Structure proportions, if projected potential sites stay the same without the release of new sites.

• 91% of new builds completed were over the minimum 30 dwelling per hectare national density guideline.

What do we need to do?

• Seek to build a higher proportion of affordable homes.

• Consider an interim strategy for the management of housing land prior to the adoption of the revised Core Strategy.

• Develop strategies that will provide for future housing requirements for the district including that currently being considered at the regional level and take these forward into Development Plan Documents.

Transport – What’s happening?

• Lichfield District has high car ownership and subsequently a high proportion of people travelling to work by car.

• Accessibility of vital services by public transport from our new developments is below our targets despite the fact that land released is principally within our urban areas.

• Resident’s proximity to bus stops vary greatly. Burntwood has the highest percentage of people within 350m of a bus stop in the county, Lichfield one of the lowest.

What do we need to do?

• Work with the County Council towards implementing sustainable transport measures including improving bus services and continue to give Community Transport priority to help less mobile groups, particularly in Lichfield and some large villages that have a very limited service.

• Make sure Green Travel Plans submitted with major applications are implemented properly.

6

Other Key Issues

• Local Services – The proportion of Burntwood resident’s expenditure on retail retained within the town is very low, particularly for comparison goods shopping.

• Action – To move forward as quickly as possible with the process of building a new town centre for Burntwood, to meet local needs. To be incorporated into the emerging LDF Core Strategy.

• Biodiversity - There is need for more specific policies and targets to monitor the different aspects of Biodiversity effectively.

• Action - To consider policies and targets more closely when the LDF monitoring requirements are reviewed alongside the revised Core Strategy.

• Recreation, Community Services and Facilities - There is a need to ensure that existing and developing communities have access to an appropriate range of local facilities.

• Action - To prepare open space sport and recreation strategies and to invest in community facilities to meet needs of areas of new housing.

• Monitoring Data - There are some key areas in relation to sustainable development where data sources are available but require refinement, such as monitoring provision for renewable energy in new development

• Action – Need to work with internal and external partners to identify new and better ways of measuring progress.

7

Summary of Core Output Indicators:

Table 1: Summary of Core Output Indicators Core Output Indicators

☺ 1a Amount of land developed for employment by type Amount of land developed for employment by type, ☺ 1b which is in development and/or regeneration areas defined in the Local Development Framework Percentage of 1a, by type which is on previously 1c ☺ developed land Target to be 1d developed Employment land supply by type Losses of employment land in (i) development/ 1e regeneration areas and (ii) local authority area 1f Amount of employment land lost to residential use ☺ 2a Housing trajectories Percentage of new and converted dwellings on 2b ☺ previously developed land Percentage of new dwellings completed at designated 2c ☺ density rates ☺ 2d Affordable housing completions Percentage of completed non-residential development ☺ 3a complying with car parking standards set out in the local development framework Percentage of new residential development within 30 3b minutes public transport time of a GP, hospitals, schools, employment and a major health centre Amount of completed retail, office and leisure 4a ☺ development Percentage of completed retail, office and leisure 4b* development in town centres Percentage of eligible open spaces managed to Green 4c Flag Award Standard Number of planning permissions granted contrary to the ☺ 7 advice of the Environment Agency on either flood defence grounds or water quality (i) Change in priority habitats and species (by type) (ii) Change in areas designated for their intrinsic 8 environmental value including sites of international, national, regional or sub-regional significance Target to be 9 developed Renewable energy capacity installed by type ☺ Moving towards sustainable development Moving away from sustainable development

*Although not in the city centre, the Waitrose that was built was constructed to directly meet the needs of a substantial new area of residential development

8

Introduction

Monitoring is integral to the successful delivery of planning policies and the new Local Development Frameworks. It helps authorities understand the social, environmental and economic issues affecting their areas and the key drivers of spatial change. The findings allow the Local Authority to review their policy management if deemed necessary, in the context of the findings of the report.

This monitoring report will monitor Local Development Document policies which are contained within the Framework. In the interim period before the adoption of any LDF documents, the Council has instead put together Local Plan policy monitoring, but while having regard to the likely objectives of the LDF. This is underlined by the inclusion of a range of Local Indicators, highlighting the Districts identity and priorities.

This AMR reports on Local Development Scheme progress, the three-year project plan that programmes the production of the Local Development Framework. The District Council submitted the Core Strategy, Allocations of Land and Site Development Policies and the Development Control Policies DPDs in October 2005 and as a result of examination in 2006, they have been subsequently withdrawn. This has major implications for the timescales for delivery of all Local Development Documents (LDDs) contained within the submitted LDS. A revised LDS is currently being considered and will be submitted in winter 2006/ 2007.

This years Annual Monitoring Report sees some progress in terms of developing local targets and improving monitoring methods from the inaugural report produced last year. These include issues of present importance in the district such as housing need and supply, open space provision and facilities and tourism and the economy.

Structure of the AMR

The monitoring report is structured around the Contextual, Core and Local output indicators this year, keeping surplus text to a minimum. This is line with regional recommendations advising a shorter more concise report. Due to Lichfield District Councils’ unique circumstances regarding the withdrawal of the LDS documents it was felt that the inclusion of Significant Effects Indicators would be counter productive as the integral value of them is to monitor the long term implementation of LDF strategies. For the same reasons, a small number of local indicators that the council was intending to implement have also been taken out. Significant Effects indicators will be developed linked to the emerging sustainability appraisal objectives and indicators.

The beginning of the report puts Lichfield in its spatial context and provides key information about the District. The main body of the report focuses on the performance and targets set for the Indicators. The main sections are topic based and include commentary on the indicators, directly supporting graphs and tables, (extra supporting data can be found in the supporting document, the Technical Appendix, or on the website) and at the end in a key findings and actions section. Indicator information is for the year 1st April 2005 to the 31st March 2006 unless indicated otherwise.

9 Implementation of the LDS

Lichfield District Council’s Local Development Scheme became effective in July 2005. The programme for 2005/2006 included progression on a number of Local Development Documents.

The table below shows that the District Council has met the majority of the key milestones as set out in the LDS. Given the outcome of the Core Strategy Examination the Council will have to submit a revised LDS for approval. It is anticipated that this revised LDS will be published in March 2007.

Development Plan Documents

Timetable Local Development Document Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Statement of Community This document is now fully adopted Involvement S A

Core Strategy Consultation, submission and examination milestones met for this monitoring year S E however, adoption date Dec 2006 will not be met because the document was found to be unsound at examination Allocation of Land and Site Consultation and Submission milestones Development Policies E met. Adoption date Dec 2006 will not be S met because the document was found to be unsound at examination

Development Control Consultation and Submission milestones Policies E met. Adoption date Dec 2006 will not be S met because the document was found to be unsound at examination

Lichfield City Centre Area Preferred options milestone met. Action Plan PO PO Document was due to be submitted to the secretary of state in Jul 2006 but revision required due to outcome of Core Strategy Examination. West Burntwood Area Action Preferred options milestone met. Plan PO PO Document was due to be submitted to the Secretary of State in Jul 2006 but revision

required due to outcome of Core Strategy Examination.

Key: S = Submission; PO = Preferred Options; E = Examination; A = Adoption; T a rget Met Supplementary Planning Documents

This document is now adopted Trees and development A Supplementary Planning Document Planning Guide to This document is now adopted Residential Extensions A Supplementary Planning Document Borrowcop Lane This document is now adopted Supplementary Planning PP PP PP A Document

Central Rivers A revised timetable is now being Supplementary Planning PP PP considered within the Local Development Scheme Document

Developer Contributions The milestones have been brought forward given the need to put in place guidance for the local community. An SPD was adopted in May 2006

Open Space, Sport and The key milestones for consultation Recreation PP PP were met; however the timetable for adoption will need to be revised given the outcome of the Core Strategy examination. Landscape and Biodiversity The key milestones for consultation PP PP were met; however the timetable for adoption will need to be revised given the outcome of the Core Strategy examination. Chasewater Development No key milestones for this monitoring Brief year. The key milestones will need to be revised given the need to review the Local Development Scheme. Drayton Manor Park No key milestones for this monitoring Development Brief year. The key milestones will need to be revised given the need to review the Local Development Scheme.

Land South of Shortbutts No key milestones for this monitoring Lane Development Brief year. The key milestones will need to be revised given the need to review the Local Development Scheme.

Key: S = Submission; PP = Public Participation; E = Examination; A = Target Met Target not Met 11

Lichfield District Profile

Lichfield District is an attractive Semi-Rural area located to the North of the West Midlands Conurbation in South East Staffordshire. It covers an area of 128 square miles and has a population of around 95,500, (2005 estimates). There are 2 main urban areas, the City of Lichfield and the town of Burntwood, both with a population of around 30,000. There is also a large rural area, particularly to the North and East with many villages of significant character and several high quality, contrasting rural landscapes. Green Belt covers over half the District, it generally covers the area between the West Coast Mainline, which runs from the South East to the North West across the District and the edge of the West Midlands Conurbation.

Figure 2: Spatial Portrait of Lichfield District

District Infrastructure

Lichfield District has a well developed transport infrastructure with good highway links to the rest of the region and beyond. The M6 Toll helps to provide a fast link between the South East and North West and has increased the profile of the area for business investment. The A38 and the A5 are the other main arterial roads running through the District, providing quick routes to Birmingham and the M1 North and the M6 and M1 South respectively. There are also frequent trains to Birmingham from Lichfield and the West Coast Main Line also runs through the District stopping at Lichfield Trent Valley. It is currently undergoing track widening which will improve the speed and efficiency of train services.

Figure 3: District Infrastructure

13

Lichfield District Key Statistics

People and Society

Table 3: People and Society Population West Source District England Midlands Population 95,500 5,365,400 50,431,700 2005 mid year estimates-ONS % Under 16 19.46 20.81 20.16 2001 Census % Over 65 15.49 15.96 15.89 2001 Census Ethnic Composition (%) Source White 98.14 88.74 90.92 2001 Census Mixed 0.54 1.39 1.31 2001 Census Asian or Asian British 0.78 7.32 4.58 2001 Census Black or Black British 0.25 1.98 2.30 2001 Census Chinese or Other Ethnic Group 0.29 0.57 0.89 2001 Census Indices of Deprivation 2004 Source Index of Multiple Deprivation Rank of Average Score 259 2004 - ODPM Index of Multiple Deprivation Rank of Income 258 2004 - ODPM

Index of Multiple Deprivation Rank of Employment Scale 223 2004 - ODPM

• The population of Lichfield District is growing steadily. If estimates are correct, between the 2001 census and the 2005 mid year estimates, the population of the District grew by around 2300 people, an increase of approximately 2.4%.

• This appears mainly due to in-migration, particularly people of a retirement age (Source, Office of National Statistics). Highlighting this, between 2001 and 2006, 3004 new dwellings were built in the District.

• Comparatively, Lichfield District has the largest proportion of its age group in the 45-64 age category

• Lichfield District is ranked in the top third least deprived local authority areas under the Indices of Deprivation for average score and income and just outside the top third for Rank of Employment.

14

Education

Table 4: Education Education % of pupils achieving 5 GCSE 54.1 Dept for Education and Skills grades A*-C Average 'A' level points score 287.1 Dept for Education and Skills Higher Education Entrants 450 Dept for Education and Skills

• Lichfield Districts GCSE A*-C pass rate grades are around the county and national average

• They have improved from 51% in 1997 to 54.1% in 2006. However, other areas in the county have improved much more dramatically with the Staffordshire average improving from 45% to 54% and nationally from 45% to 56% A*-C.

• The ‘A’ level point’s score per student is higher than the county average of 254.7 and the national average of 277.8.

• The number of students entering into higher education also contrasts with the wider trend with 65 less students taking up university places than in 1997. By contrast county figures show a rise of more than 2,000 and in England and Wales more than 20,000.

Economy and Employment

Lichfield District’s economy benefits from low levels of unemployment and a prime area for businesses to locate. There are still some large manufacturing companies in the area, most notably Ideal Standard, formerly Armitage Shanks, the world renowned bathroom manufacturers, employing nearly 1500 people and Norgren Martonair the main member of IMI’S fluid power division, whose headquarters of their multinational company are located within the District. This year has seen the announcement of the closure of a manufacturer, GKN, this is an example of how the local employment base will continually need to restructure

Figure 4: Employment by Sector

% Employed by sector Manuf ac tur ing Wholesale/ Retail

Health and Social Work 5% 4% 5% 23% Real Estate/ 8% Renting/Business activity Educ ation

Hotels/ Res taurants 9% 19% Construction 13% 14% Public admin/Defence /Social security Transport Source: Labour Market Review 2003

15 Economy and Employment Continued…

Figure 4 indicates the latest available figures from 2003’s Labour Market Review. The steadily declining Manufacturing sector has been replaced as the biggest employer following national trends. The sector where the largest number of people is now employed is distribution, hotel and restaurants. Employment in distribution is high because of the large number of distribution warehouses built recently and still being built, particularly at Fradley Park. The hotel and restaurant industry is buoyant due to the number of tourists attracted to the district and Lichfield and the surrounding villages is a popular destination in the evening for diners.

Table 5: Economy: Average Income Average Income (Gross) West Source District England Midlands Staffs Annual Survey of Annual Income (Mean) 20,762 21,004 23,496 Income 2006 Staffs Annual Survey of Annual Income (Median) 17,693 17,926 19,018 Income 2006 Unemployment Rates % Staffs Labour Trends Bulletin All Claimants 1.4% 3.4% 2.6% Jul 06

Staffs Labour Trends Bulletin All Claimants 1.5% 3.0% 2.4% Jul 05

• The mean average income for Lichfield is 88.4% of the national average, higher than income for Staffordshire, but slightly lower than the West Midlands as a whole.

• Lichfield’s median figure is 93% of the national average indicating less of a wealth disparity than the norm.

• Unemployment in Lichfield is consistently much lower than the regional and national averages.

16

Housing

Property value in Lichfield District is much higher than most of the neighbouring authorities and slightly higher than the national average. Property prices are particularly high in Lichfield City and many of the surrounding villages due to their attractive and historic nature, good transport links and close proximity to Birmingham. The average house price is significantly higher than those of neighbouring Staffordshire Districts. Recently however, the market has stabilised mainly due to a fall in the average prices of flats and apartments.

Figure 5: Average House Prices

Average House Prices (June 2006)

250000

200000 Lichfield

England and Wales

150000 Stafford

£ e

c Staffordshire i

Pr 100000 East Staffs Tamworth Cannock 50000

0

02 03 04 05 06 Year

(Graph shows districts bordering Lichfield)

Table 6: Housing: Average House Prices Lichfield Average Property Prices £ Source Detached 306,812 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Semi-Detached 161,490 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Terraced 150,419 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Flat/ Maisonette 134,725 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Average- Lichfield 208,087 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Average- Staffordshire 166,793 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Average- England & Wales 199,184 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2006 Lichfield Ave Property Prices (’05) Source Detached 279,252 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005 Semi-Detached 159,411 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005 Terraced 144,616 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005 Flat/ Maisonette 160,232 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005 Average- Lichfield 212,186 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005 Average- Staffordshire 159,437 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005 Average- England & Wales 184,924 Land Registry – Apr-Jun 2005

17

Housing continued…

• Since last year house prices in Lichfield District have slowed down in line with regional trends.

• There was an actual overall fall in the average price of a home down from £212,186 to £208,087, although this appears largely due to an anomaly last monitoring year where a large number of new luxury or penthouse style flats were built in Lichfield creating an artificially high average price for flats that year.

• Lichfield District consistently has the highest house prices in Staffordshire and has been higher than the national average the past four years.

Crime

Lichfield District and neighbouring authorities are covered by the Trent Valley Police Division. Although generally a district with low crime levels, certain crimes such as violent crime are a worry and on the increase.

Figure 6: Crimes per 1000 Population

Crimes Per 1000 Population

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0 Li C Ea S Ta St En c a t h nno st af m a gl f f ff iel St or w or and c d o d d k a r sh ff th a s i nd W re a les

• Lichfield District has the lowest level of recorded crime in comparison with its neighbouring authorities with just 17 recorded offences per 1000 population, and the second lowest in the county.

• Staffordshire recorded 24.4 offences per 1000 population for the same period while the average for England and Wales’ was 25.5.

18 Crime continued…

Table 7: Crime: Crimes per 1000 Crime (per 1000 Population) 2004/05 2005/06 Source Domestic burglaries per 1000 LDC Annual Report 2005- 9.1 8.8 households 2006 Violent Crime per 1000 LDC Annual Report 2005- n/a 15.88 Population 2006 LDC Annual Report 2005- Robberies per 1000 Population n/a 0.3 2006 LDC Annual Report 2005- Vehicle crimes 1000 Population 8.3 8.7 2006 (See Appendix 1 for more information)

• Domestic burglaries are down 0.3 per 1,000 on last year.

• Violent crime represents the only significant rise in offences in the last year.

• Comparison figures are not available for all types of crime because many are in the early stages of being monitored.

19 Core Output Indicators

This section considers the achievement of targets relating to the Core Output and local indicators. Appendix 2 sets out how these indicators relate to adopted Local Plan policies. The development of local indicators into Significant Effects indicators and the refinement of targets will be given further consideration through the Local Development Framework process.

Business Development

Lichfield District has a buoyant economy with a low unemployment rate. Employment is centred on the city centre of Lichfield and the large industrial estates of Fradley and Burntwood. Monitoring the sites locations and type of land that is being developed through our Core and Local Indicators allows us to ensure we are making the best use of available land and to maintain a broad portfolio of sites to attract inward investment.

Core Output Indicator 1

Business Development

Table 8: Developed Land Total (sqm) Core Output Indicator 1a: B1 B2 B8 Targets Floorspace

Amount of land developed 0 for employment by type 11425 7268 18693 N/A

Core Output Indicator 1b: Amount of land developed for employment by type, which is in an allocated and/or regeneration areas 18693 11425 0 7268 N/A defined in the Local Development Framework Core Output Indicator 1c Percentage of 1a, by type which is on previously 100% 100% 0% 100% N/A developed land Core Output Indicator 1d (hectares) 113.5 Hectares (All available land Employment land supply designated/ by type _ _ _ N/A permitted for mix of B1, B2 and B8 uses)

Table 9: Loss of Land Core Output Indicator 1e: Land lost (Ha) Targets Losses of employment land in (i) (i) n/a No loss without development/ regeneration areas and (ii) justification local authority area (ii) 24.4 Core Output Indicator 1f: Amount of employment land lost to 21.2 No loss without residential use justification

Business Development continued…

• Lichfield has 119.04Ha of land available for employment development. The vast majority of this is Brownfield land, the only Greenfield land being a 12 Ha local plan allocation at Burton Old Road, Boley Park, which is yet to be developed.

• Completions added up to 6Ha this year, exactly the same figure as the previous year. Fradley Phase II again had the highest level of completions and the highest area under construction, all for B8 use.

• Overall, there is 24.4 Ha less land available this year, mainly due to the 21.2 Ha previously identified for employment at Lea Hall Colliery/ Rugeley Power Station. Other smaller areas include Burntwood Zone 1, formerly Chasewater Heaths having its recorded area of employment amended to exclude the lake area and other small parts of unsuitable land, leaving just 1.96 Ha of available land. This has in part been offset however, by new sites being identified, mainly in Lichfield.

• The former the ash pits for the Rugeley power station, are available for redevelopment for employment as set out in the 1998 Lichfield Local Plan.

The area indicated as lost to residential development is a 21.2 Ha site, primarily the former Lea Hall Colliery adjacent to Rugeley power station. This was partially identified for employment development in our 1998 Local Plan. However, in 2001, the Staffordshire Structure Plan created the Rugeley Eastern Redevelopment Zone incorporating the site into it, along with former power station land and identified the Colliery site for approximately 1000 houses, so it is therefore consistent with this.

Local Indicator

Employment Land Supply

Table 10: Employment Land Supply Local Indicator 1a: Area Targets Amount of B1, B2 and B8 111.47 Ha N/A developed or committed Local Indicator 1b: Maintain a portfolio of available Employment land remaining as an sites suitable for a wide range of allocation only 13.57 Ha employment uses

Table 11:

Land Status Total Area (Ha) Local Plan Allocation only 13.57 Outline Permission (mix for B1, B2 & B8 uses) 89.22

Full Permission 10.67 Under Construction 5.58 Built 6.00

Total 125.04 (See Appendix 3 for site specific information)

2

Figure 7: Employment Land Status

Employment Land Status

4% 5% 11% 9% Local Plan Allocation

General Outline Permission Full Permission Under Construction Built

71%

• Although only 13.57 Ha remains as an allocation, all employment land is available for B1, B2 and B8 uses. The largest area of land with Outline planning permission is Fradley Phase II with 59 Ha of land remaining.

Employment Location

Table 12: Employment Location Local Indicator 1c: Percentage Targets No development outside the % new B1(a) in town centres No Development town centres without justification Local Indicator 1d: % of employment development on Brownfield 100% 65% sites

3 Key Findings

• Despite losing some employment land to other uses, Lichfield District maintains a broad portfolio of sites suitable for a range of end uses.

• All sites presently being developed are on previously developed land.

• The land available for employment is not restricted to specific use classes.

• There was no employment development in or on the fringes of the main town centres, with completions restricted to Fradley and Burntwood Zone 1.

Actions

• To encourage more office development in the main centres supporting the sustainability of settlements. This will be progressed through development of strategies and the formulation of the Core Strategy

• Ensure that no more land is lost to other non-business uses without justification.

• Restrict land for specific employment uses in some locations, where the opportunity arises. This needs to be addressed through the development plan and planning application process.

4 Housing

Lichfield District Council faces significant housing pressures, arising from high demand. The Districts location, with good transport links and easy access to the West Midlands Conurbation, coupled with the attractive and historic nature of its towns and villages makes it a desirable place to live. Our local indicators are tailored to deal with such crucial issues as affordability, calculated through the price income affordability ratio and by monitoring the dwelling mix, with the purpose of increasing the provision of one and two bed units for first time buyers.

Core Output Indicator 2

It is national policy to achieve a minimum of 30 dwellings per hectare and Lichfield achieves this in most cases. 91% of new developments were completed with a density of over 30 per hectare. In many cases the density is much higher, the average housing density for the district is actually 64 dwellings per hectare. This is mainly due to major developments of flats for example, the Beacon Park retirement village with 250 units and a large new development of luxury flats in Darwin Park, Lichfield.

Regarding affordable housing completions, a housing strategy is presently being drawn up with targets for future developments and also will be considered thorough revisions to the LDF Core Strategy.

This section focuses on the delivery of housing in the District. It looks in particular at how much housing has been built and is anticipated to be built in the future. It also looks at the nature of that new housing, in particular:

• How much of it is affordable • What size of accommodation is being built • The density of new development • The type of land new development is built on • Where it is built

Table 13: Housing Core Indicators Core Output Indicator 2a: Present Figures Targets See graphs Housing trajectories N/A

Core Output Indicator 2b: Percentage of new and converted Staffordshire Structure Plan dwellings on previously developed Target for Lichfield District: 59% land 45% Core Output Indicator 2c: Percentage of new dwellings completed at: (i) less than 30 dwellings per (i) 9%

hectare Achieve above 30 dwellings (ii) between 30 and 50 dwellings (ii) 29% per hectare per hectare (iii) above 50 dwellings per (iii)62% hectare Core Output Indicator 2d: Affordable housing completions 129 (19.6%) 25% of qualifying sites

5

Overall Housing Supply

Figure 8 sets out a ‘housing trajectory’ showing past completions and the anticipated future delivery of housing in the District. This figure shows whether, on an annual basis, the district is on target to meet its housing requirements. The more detailed figures underpinning the trajectory are set out in the online appendix.

Figure 8: Housing Trajectory

Lichfield District Council Housing Trajectory

800

700

600 s e

s 500 LDC Projected Housing Completions Hou 400 of r

e LDC Actual Housing Completions

300

Numb RSS Annual Average Rate of Housing Provision using Structure Plan 200 Proportions

100

0

/1 /2 /3 /4 /5 /6 7 /8 /9 0 1 2 3 5 6 7 2 3 4 5 6/ 7 8 /1 /1 /1 /1 14 /1 /1 /1 18 19 20 21 00 01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3/ 7/ 8/ 9/ 0/ 0 0 0 09 10 11 12 1 14 15 16 1 1 1 2 20 20 20 20 2 2 2 20 20 0 0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2 2 Date

(See Appendix 4 for more detailed information)

• Total house completions for the year 2005/06 were 659, resulting in total completions for 2001 – 2006 being 3,004 compared to the RSS annualised requirement for this period of 2,610

The trajectory is based on the following key elements:

• Annual monitoring of net dwelling completions from 2000/01 to 2005/06. The housing trajectory only shows data since 4/2001 as this is the start date for the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.

• Anticipated future supply of housing based on the outcome of the Lichfield District Urban Housing Capacity Assessment (October 2005). This study combined the identification of individual sites (with and without planning permission) with an assessment of realistic potential for housing above certain size thresholds in identified settlements and with ‘windfall’ forecasts for housing to estimate an overall level of housing potential for the period 2005 – 2021.

• The remaining Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) housing requirement for the District, based on Structure Plan proportions. The RSS is currently being reviewed and will set District level housing requirements to 2026.

6 Housing Supply continued…

The prediction element of the trajectory (i.e. looking beyond 2006) is based on:

• Annualising the windfall forecasts from the Urban Housing Capacity Assessment

• Making realistic assumptions about the timing of the delivery of all the identified sites both with planning permission and without in the Urban Housing Capacity Assessment. The Assessment is reviewed regularly and takes account of discussions with developers, knowledge of build rates and anticipated start dates.

Figure 9: Housing Trajectory

Lichfield District Council Cumulative Housing Trajectory

9000

8000

7000

6000

ousing 5000 Cumulative Allocation ve H i

t Cumulative Completions 4000

Cumula 3000

2000

1000

0

/2 /3 /4 /5 /6 /7 /8 /9 0 0/1 /1 /11 /12 /13 /14 /15 /16 /17 /18 /19 /20 /21 0 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 09 10 11 12 13 20 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 01 01 01 01 01 01 02 20 20 20 20 20 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Year

The trajectory shows:

• In the short term the cumulative completion rate is running ahead of the annualised rate set out in the RSS using structure plan proportions. The RSS figure is expressed as a maximum.

• An increase in housing provision is anticipated in the next few years, which could result in significant over provision of housing against RSS requirements to 2011.

• Beyond 2011 housing completions are expected to tail off with the District being reliant on small windfalls only (sites of less than 10 dwellings) post 2013, unless further housing allocations are made or additional sites come forward.

• The trajectory shows that the housing supply is above RSS rates to approximately 2013. However this does not meet a 10 year supply, if structure plan proportions are applied to the Staffordshire housing requirement within the RSS.

7

Local Indicator

Housing Need

The current identified housing supply falls short of the 10 year target identified in PPG3 when calculated using the full District requirement included in the Staffordshire Structure Plan, which includes meeting part of Tamworth’s housing needs. All the allocated sites have come forward from the Local Plan and most of the remaining identified sites arise from urban capacity. This is one reason why it is imperative to move forward as soon as possible with the LDF process in order to identify new sites for development.

However, the level of need post 2011 is now complicated by the partial review of the Regional Spatial Strategy, which will consult on a range of scales of housing at District level in January 2007 and these take account of revised household projections indicating a significant increase in forecast households within the West Midlands region. Progress on the review of the LDF will need to take account of potential changes in the level of housing requirement arising from the review.

Although the Council is working towards developing a higher proportion of affordable homes there is still a recognised deficiency. This is a particular problem in Lichfield and Burntwood.

Table 14: Housing Need Local Indicator 2a: Present Figures Targets Number of years supply 7 Years 10 year supply Local Indicator 2b: To work towards deficiencies % developed or committed supply identified in Housing Needs of affordable housing by sub-area See Table Survey Local Indicator 2c: Affordability Index-price/income To see a reduction in the 9.9 affordability ratio ratio Local Indicator 2d: Number of home adaptations 30 per annum (Housing 42 completed Strategy) Local Indicator 2e: Ensure adequate provision on authorised sites taking Number of unauthorised gypsy/ 8 into account the results of traveller caravans the emerging gypsy/traveller needs assessments. Local Indicator 2f: 1 bed: 18.2 % Increase proportion of Dwellings mix achieved 2 bed: 31.4 % provision in 1 and 2 bed 3 bed: 24.4 % units to meet existing 4+ bed: 25.9 % identified needs Local Indicator 2g: Increase number where Dwellings built on exception sites 0 need is identified

8

Housing Need continued…

Table 15: Affordable Housing Affordable Housing Sub Area Committed/ Under Construction Completed 2005/06 Lichfield 179 / 52% 113 / 88% Burntwood 12 / 3% 11 /9% Rural North 150 / 43% 5 / 4% Rural South 4 / 1% 0 / 0%

The affordability index highlights how affordable an area is to live in by dividing house price by income. The higher the figure, the less affordable it is to live there. The figures showed that Lichfield District had a higher, therefore less affordable ratio compared to that for Staffordshire as a whole, 8.7 %. A recent needs survey also shows that a single person on an average wage cannot afford to live in Lichfield at present.

The target for dwelling mix may need some revision in the near future. Conflicting messages are coming out of different studies. The housing needs survey 2003 suggests we need more 1 and 2 bedroom dwellings whereas later information from the ‘Your Choice’ housing register highlights a greater demand for 3 and 4 bedroom houses. This highlights the requirement for additional research to clarify the need.

One of the key elements of policies meeting social needs is the availability of housing and meeting housing needs. The housing needs survey conducted in 2003 and had the following key findings:

• Communities in Lichfield are generally well settled, 51% of all households having lived at their current home for over 10 years; • Affordability is a major issue due to the local house price/income relationship, particularly for new forming households; • The population is ageing and just over half of those with a special need have a walking difficulty; • There is a requirement to develop a more balanced housing stock with a need for more flats and terraced houses in both the private and affordable sectors; • Annually 1,008 affordable housing units are needed, 530 more than existing stock supply that becomes available, assuming the completion of 80 new units per year.

In 2005/6 125 subsidised affordable dwellings and 4 low cost market dwellings, (non subsidised) were recorded as completed. This equates to nearly 20% of the overall completions in the year. The housing trajectory at Appendix * identifies the assumed level of completions for both social and low cost dwellings to 2021, although it does not take account of the need to release additional land to meet the full requirements for the period. It is anticipated that the level of affordable completions will be consistently below current 2005/6 levels unless additional provision is made.

Gypsies/ Travellers

Lichfield District Council monitors the number of gypsy sites and caravans in the district and provides returns to the Government bi-annually for the national ‘Bi yearly Gypsy & Traveller Caravan Count.’

As of the 19th January 2006 there were no gypsy sites with permission. There was 1 unauthorised site on the day of monitoring at Mile Oak near Tamworth. Although the land concerned has been bought by the gypsies, it has been refused planning permission for the site in Mile Oak, near Tamworth following an appeal.

To inform the evidence base for future policy the council is undertaking a gypsy and traveller assessment with partner authorities covering southern Staffordshire, North Warwickshire and Nuneaton & Bedworth.

9

Key Findings

• The districts housing completion rates are at present ahead of the RSS requirements and likely to remain that way until around 2013

• Post 2013, unless further housing sites are released there will be quite a major shortfall in annual completion rates- the rates of development necessary, however, could be significantly affected by the RSS Partial Review.

• Although the figures show the District has not achieved a minimum of 30 dwellings per hectare in every case, overall average densities are much higher

• Affordable housing provision has been made in line with current policy, but this remains below identified need

Actions

• Consider interim management of housing supply. Given the likely timescales for the production of the Core Strategy and the out of date nature of the existing Local Plan the District Council is considering the need for interim Council approved policy and may publish a consultaion document early in 2007.

• Revise the urban capacity study as part of the evidence gathering for the Local Development Framework

• Consider the robustness of the housing needs survey and establish whether revision required as part of the evidence gathering stage of the Local Development Framework

• Take account of changing levels of need in devising the new Core Strategy for housing.

10

Transport

The main issue facing Lichfield District Council regarding transport and travel is the high level of car use as opposed to more sustainable transport options. This is highlighted by the many local indicators devised to monitor methods of travel to work, accessibility of bus stops and the need of companies to produce Green Travel Plans with all major developments applications. However, many transport indicators are monitored as part of the Local Transport Plan process at County level and it is not always possible at present to obtain the information necessary to monitor progress towards targets at District level.

Core Output Indicator 3

Table 16: Transport Core Indicators Core Output Indicator 3a: % Compliant Targets Percentage of completed non- 100% of all major residential development development compliant with complying with car parking PPG 13 in the absence of 100% standards set out in PPG 13 the LDF. Core Output Indicator 3b: % Within 30 mins Percentage of new residential development within 30 minutes public transport time of a GP, 90% of all new residential hospitals, schools, employment See table development and a major health centre (1 out of the completed 7 developments did not record parking spaces in their plan)

Table 17-19: Accessibility of New Development

Service % Accessible No. of completions accessible

Hospitals 49.17 324

Town Centres 48.41 319 GPs 62.97 415

High Schools 48.1 317

Primary Schools 63.13 416

Industrial Estates 90.74 598

Total Dwellings 659

Table 18

No. of under construction Service % Accessible accessible Hospitals 76.22 436 Town Centres 76.22 436 GPs 76.40 437 High Schools 76.40 437 Primary Schools 72.73 416 Industrial Estates 64.34 368 Total Dwellings 572

11

Table 19 No. of remaining dwellings Service % Accessible accessible Hospitals 53.77 899 Town Centres* 53.41 893 GPs 53.53 895 High Schools 53.11 888 Primary Schools* 52.15 872 Industrial Estates 64.47 1078 Total Dwellings 1672 (Figures courtesy of Staffs County Council – LTP monitoring)

• Lichfield District has only achieved its target on completions for accessibility to Industrial Estates.

• The target may have to be revised in the future, possibly including a breakdown of targets for each specific service or community need.

* In most other categories, Lichfield appears to fall short of the required percentage of dwellings accessible. In most cases this is more of a reflection of the sporadic nature of the public transport network in some areas rather than being a long way from certain services. Services such as primary schools and town centres are often within walking distance but this is not currently taken account of in the indicator.

Local Indicator

In the future, it is the Councils’ policy to implement measures to monitor these indicators at a district level and with more up to date information. By setting out these indicators now, it at least underlines the authority’s areas of focus and intentions.

Sustainable Transport

Table 20 – 21: Sustainable Transport Local Indicator 3a: Percentage Targets Rise in train journeys in the district. Target to % of residents traveling to gg2d2hju2.66% (1226) be developed in conjunction with the County work by train ( (2001 Census) (20g Council and Local Transport Plan indicators. Local Indicator 3b: Rise in bus journeys in the district. Target to % of residents traveling to 2.77% (1277) be developed in conjunction with the County work by bus (2001 Census) Council and Local Transport Plan indicators.

Local Indicator 3b: Rise in cycle trips in the district. Target to be % of residents cycling to 1.57% (725) developed in conjunction with the County work (2001 Census) Council and Local Transport Plan indicators. Local Indicator 3c: Number of major applications with 100% * accompanying Green Travel 100% Plans (*See Appendix 5 for more detailed information)

12

Table 22: Bus service accessibility Local Indicator 3d: Percentage At least Population within 350m of a 85% in Lichfield and 95% in bus stop with a minimum (i) Lichfield 65% Burntwood service provision of 30 mins (ii) Burntwood 94%

Local Indicator 3e: Population aged 75 or over within 200m of a hourly bus 76.7 % (County) 75% in Lichfield and service Burntwood

Local Indicator 3f: Percentage of rural households within 13 75% of all new residential minutes walk of an hourly 55% (County) development bus service

• There is a large disparity in the accessibility of bus routes between Lichfield and Burntwood. Burntwood has the highest figure of provision in the County and Lichfield has one of the lowest percentages of accessibility in the county. (Local Transport Plan).

Table 23: Other Transport Local Indicator 3g: Present Figures Target Total amount of journeys to To reduce total amount of 66.7% (01) work by car journeys to work by car by 77% (Apr 05) 10% by 2021 Local Indicator 3h: Number of road related To reduce the numbers of deaths and serious injuries pedestrians and pedal cycle Staffs 329 users killed or seriously injured Local Indicator 3i: Rugeley Eastern Bypass Completion of Lichfield Completion of road schemes completed. Southern Bypass and Rugeley identified within the LTP 2nd stage of Lichfield Eastern Bypass. Southern Bypass underway

Lichfield District had the second highest proportion of people traveling to work by car in the 2001 census, (the 2005 figures represent a local survey only). It is a major challenge to change travel patterns and habits and it needs significant improvements to public transport. Many potential influences, such as financial measures, are out of the control of the District Council.

The Council is, however, trying to address this issue by using the Section 106 agreements for new developments to specify provision and financial contributions towards the public transport infrastructure. Another measure is to seek to provide a greater range of local employment opportunities, for example, in town centre offices, in Lichfield and Burntwood centres to discourage travel out of the District therefore also making the settlements more sustainable.

13

Key findings

• Journey to work travel is becoming less sustainable as shown by local indicator 3g.

• Accessibility from new developments to essential services is generally below targets at present.

• The percentage of people traveling by bus to work is the lowest in the county, the number of cyclists is also comparatively low.

• Lichfield also has the second highest proportion of people traveling to work by car in Staffordshire.

Actions

• More sustainable land use patterns are being implemented but it will take time to see the positive effects. Sustainable transport is to be a key theme in developing strategies and the Local Development Framework.

• Services and facilities need to be developed to serve new housing sites. Local Development Framework policies required.

• There is the potential to increase the use of Section 106 agreements for financial contributions to improve transport facilities. Established Section 106 Working group to consider this further.

14

Local Services

Improved provision of local services in the district, particularly in town centres, is a priority for the Council over the next few years as there are identified deficiencies in certain services and facilities. Local Indicators such as monitoring retention rates and footfall will enable assessment of whether we are achieving our goals in the future. Aside from looking at provision for large settlements, the Council is also committed to seeking rural facilities and keeping facility loss to a minimum, as highlighted in Local Indicators 4e and f.

Core Output Indicator 4

Local Services

Table 24: Development of Services Retail Core Output Indicator 4a: Office Leisure (sqm) Amount of completed retail, office and leisure development 4041 0 0 Core Output Indicator 4b:

Percentage of completed retail, office and 0 leisure development in town centres 0 0

Table 25: Green Flag Award Core Output Indicator 4c: Percentage of eligible open spaces managed to 0 a green flag award standard

• The retail figure relates to a single food retail development on the edge of Lichfield, built to principally serve new residential development.

• The Council has recently resolved to grant planning permission for a major new development in Lichfield City Centre that will comprise a mixed use development of retail, including a department store, restaurants, a cinema and a hotel.

• Beacon Park in Lichfield is at present working towards achieving the Green Flag Award Standard.

Local Indicator

Retail and Leisure

One of the Council’s main objectives over the next few years is to create a new town centre for Burntwood. The need is to develop a range of retail outlets, offices and leisure facilities and other town centre uses to serve local needs. The Council is at present considering the way forward and engaging with key landowners.

Although Lichfield has a range of shopping and town centre facilities, it is still under represented in certain sectors and in larger outlets. The proposed Friarsgate development at Birmingham Road will make a major contribution to meeting identified needs. In addition the Council has granted planning permission for a bulky goods development at Eastern Avenue.

15

Retail and Leisure continued…

Table 26: Retail and Leisure Local Indicator 4a: Present Figures Targets

Number of S106 negotiated for sustainable To achieve a transport measures, local facilities, services satisfactory agreement 11* and their maintenance relevant to the proposal. Local Indicator 4b: Increase retention Retention rates for shopping and leisure 5% Burntwood rates to 30% for expenditure (comparison goods) 48% Lichfield Burntwood and 58% (GL Hearn 2005) for Lichfield Local Indicator 4c: Bakers Lane: 6240 Increase footfall in Bore Street: 2731 Health check in town centres- footfall Lichfield City Centre Market Street: 3867 and Burntwood Town Tamworth St: 3220 Centre (July 2005) Local Indicator 4d: Amount of commercial leisure, retail and 7.5 Ha N/A offices committed (*See Appendix 6 for more detailed information)

• Retention rates for comparison shopping in Burntwood are very low for a settlement of nearly 30,000 inhabitants.

• The footfall figures are from July 2005. This survey takes place bi-annually at the same time of year and locations, to measure trends in the pedestrian count in Lichfield City Centre.

• The 7.5 Ha of committed land comprises of two sites close together, one around 6.5 Ha and the other around 1 Ha, in Burntwood. A major application for retail and leisure development was refused by the Secretary of State for the large site in 2002, but parts of the site still retains outline permission for retail and leisure development.

Rural Services

Table 27: Rural Services Local Indicator 4e: Present Situation Targets Loss of rural facilities and Monitoring commenced from No loss unless demonstrated services April 2006 no need for retention exists Local Indicator 4f: Monitoring commenced from Increase key rural facilities. April 2006 Specific targets to be Gain in rural facilities and developed through the LDF services process and once sustainability evidence is completed.

16

Open Space

The Council has now completed a comprehensive survey of all open space in the district. This will allow us to monitor more easily and hopefully prevent more effectively, any potential loss of open space. Access to woodland and greenspace can also be improved once there is sufficient information to identify areas of deficiency and the Council is working with Natural England and the Woodland Trust to clarify the existing situation and develop targets.

Table 28: Open Space Local Indicator 4g: Hectares (Ha) Targets Amount of open space , sport Local Targets being developed 281.83 and recreation in the district through ongoing PPG17 assessment. Local Indicator 4h: Amount of land currently used for open space sport and No loss without justification No loss of open space recreation lost to other uses Local Indicator 4i: Being developed with Access to woodland advice from the Woodland Woodland Trust Access Standard Trust Local Indicator 4j: Being developed with English Nature Access Standard Access to natural green space advice from Natural

England

Quality of Open Space

Table 29: Quality of Open Space Local Indicator 4k: Present Figures Targets % of residents satisfied with 60% (’05) Looking to achieve 80% satisfaction parks and open spaces (LDC Omnibus Survey) long term Local Indicator 4l: % of residents satisfied with 44% (‘05) Looking to achieve 80% satisfaction sports and leisure facilities (LDC Omnibus Survey) long term

• There have been a number of improvements and installations of facilities in this period, including a major new open space scheme comprising a skate park and a multi use football and basketball area in Fradley.

Urban Open Space

Table 30: Urban Open Space Local Indicator 4m: Present Figures Target To be determined through Number of community development of the Community regeneration schemes 1 strategy and Local Development completed in the District Framework Local Indicator 4n: To be determined through Environmental improvement development of the Community schemes completed 0 strategy and Local Development Framework

• The Community Regeneration Area is in North Lichfield and located at Oakenfields where a new Multi-Use Football and Basketball court was installed with an equipped play area for the children.

17

Key Findings

• There was no completed development in the major settlement centres.

• There are very low retention rates for shopping in Burntwood Town Centre.

• There is little information available at present on the vitality of rural services.

• Lichfield has protected its open space from any development this year and has created new equipped open space at Fradley to support needs arising from development.

• There is a need to put in place the mechanisms to allow us to monitor access to woodland and green space.

• Residents satisfaction with local sports and leisure facilities is low.

Actions

• The district is implementing PPS 6 for proposals for new town centre uses, where applicants need to undertake a sequential test, to demonstrate the application is in the most central location that is practical.

• To move forward, through the LDF, with the consultation process for developing a new town centre for Burntwood.

• To carry out annual ‘footfall’ surveys to assess the ‘health’ of different locations in the City Centre and consider introducing similar monitoring in Burntwood.

• We will introduce consistent monitoring of rural services and facilities, with a recent study establishing the base levels. • Continue liaising with the appropriate organisations to gain the information needed for a monitoring framework to be implemented.

• An in house report is being prepared to examine indoor sports provision in the district. A separate consultants report, prepared for the District Council, the playing pitch strategy, considers the provision of outdoor sport and recreation in the district. These are designed to highlight whether Lichfield District Council needs improved leisure facilities and sports pitches and examine options for the future. Options will be considered through the LDF process.

18 Flood Protection and Water Quality

There are a number of rivers in Lichfield District including part of one of the major rivers in England, the Trent. There is a risk of flooding in parts of the district most notably in the east from the River Tame around Hopwas and Elford and in the north from the River Trent near the settlements of Alrewas and Kings Bromley. The only special area for conservation within Lichfield District is a section of the River Mease, where maintaining its water quality is essential to the habitat of protected species.

Core Output Indicator 7

Table 31: Flood Protection Core Output Indicator 7: Number Granted Targets Number of planning permissions granted 0 contrary to the advice of the Environment Agency 2 on either flood defence grounds or water quality (See appendix 7 for more detailed information)

• Although the target is to follow all advice from the Environment Agency, the 2 granted this year is a big improvement on the 7 granted contrary to advice in the last monitoring year.

• One of the sites was a single residential unit, near the River Tame at Elford in flood risk zone 2 where the applicants had not submitted a flood risk assessment. The development was granted with the condition that a satisfactory flood risk assessment was submitted.

• The other site was a larger proposal concerning the infilling of a temporary balancing pond within the Fradley employment area. A larger pond is soon to be created nearby.

Water quality

Table 32: Water Quality Chemical GQA Biology GQA River/Canal Location 2002 2003 2004 2005 2002 2003 2004 2005 River Blithe Hamstall Ridware A B B B B - - B Handsacre High Bridge B D D D C - - C River Trent Yoxall Bridge B B C B - - C - Fazeley B B B B - C - - River Tame Elford C B C C - D - - River Mease Croxall B B B B - - B - Birmingham and Fazeley D E E E - - C - Fazeley Canal Trent and Mersey Fradley Junction C E E E - C - - Canal (These sites are only monitored at most bi-annually. The data here is from 2003 and 2004.) (A denotes the best quality; F is the worst quality water.)

19

Key findings

• The Council is improving its record on accepting the advice of the Environment Agency

• The canals are the poorest quality stretches of water in the monitored in the General Quality assessments. The water quality of the Rivers is generally good.

Actions

• The Environment Agency is becoming more actively engaged in the planning process and fewer applications have been determined against its advice.

• To implement measures from the Central Rivers Initiative to restore habitats such as areas of reed bed and other native habitats, that had been damaged by gravel extraction from the River Tame and Trent and which can improve water quality.

• Develop understanding with British Waterways of whether Councils’ actions can influence water quality.

• To carry out a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to guide the assessment of future development. This SRA will form part of the evidence gathering for the LDF.

20 Biodiversity

Lichfield district covers a rich and varied landscape. In the east is the Mease Lowlands, with good fertile agricultural soil, to the north and east are the Trent Valley washlands, that have been exploited for sand and gravel extraction, the north west corner of the district are home to the Needwood claylands, a rolling poorly drained plateau and the largest area covered by the settlements Lichfield and Burntwood are the sandstones of Cannock Chase and Cankwood, where coal was extracted on the western fringes of the district until recently.

There are many indicators devised to assist monitoring the implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy. The Council is monitoring more closely how it protects important sites and the condition they are in. The landscape section deals with the need to monitor how the Council’s money is being spent through groups and organisations and to assess the level of influence the council is having in formulating strategies and achieving targets.

Core Output Indicator 8

Table 33: Biodiversity Core Indicators Core Output Indicator 8: Present Figures i) Change in priority habitats and species (by type)

(i) No Change ii) Change in areas designated for their intrinsic

environmental value including sites of (ii) See Table international, national, regional or sub-regional significance

Areas of Designation

Table 34: Areas of Designation 1995 2003 2005 2006

Status Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha)* Site of Biological 73 63 64 984.5 63 953 Interest (SBI) 1542 1526.99 Biodiversity (comb) (comb) Alert Site 34 37 38 255.2 33 297 (BAS) Site of Special Scientific 5 231.96 5 230.6 5 230.6 5 230.6 Interest (SSSI) Special Area of * * * * 1 16.9 1 15.4 Conservation (SAC) Area of Outstanding Natural * * 550.3 * 1 550.3 1 550.3 Beauty (AONB) (All areas include cross boundary measurements except Cannock Chase AONB)

21

Local Indicator

Table 35: Local Biodiversity Local Indicator 8a: Present Situation Targets Improve condition of nationally important sites To achieve and maintain such as Sites of Special favourable conditions for all Scientific Interest and See tables 33 and 35 SSSI’s and SAC’s in Lichfield Special Areas of District Conservation Local Indicator 8b: Protect Regionally and locally important sites such Pay into wildlife assessment as Local Wildlife Sites, Local group that monitor these sites No net loss of areas of natural Geological Sites and over a five year period. or semi natural habitat Biodiversity Alert Sites from Receive yearly updates. loss of area Local Indicator 8c:

Contributing to Monitor through Development Protection and enhancement Staffordshire Biodiversity control. Seek enhancement of Staffordshire BAP habitats Action Plan and protecting and mitigation. Surveys will be and species. European and nationally carried out and monitored No net loss of SBAP Priority protected species where needed. Habitats and species

Local Indicator 8d: Maintain a Biodiversity Steering Group for Implementation of Lichfield development and View the Biodiversity Strategy District’s Biodiversity implementation of Lichfield Annual Report for progress Strategy Districts Biodiversity Strategy. Achieving the targets set within the Action Plan

Areas of Designation

Table 36: Quality of SSSI’s

Unit Latest SSSI Unit Area Condition Source Assessment Compiled (Ha) Date Stowe Pool 1 5.97 Unfavourable No Change English Nature 24/04/2006 01/07/2006 Chasewater 1 28.37 Unfavourable Recovering English Nature 22/09/2004 01/07/2006 Heaths 2 4.59 Unfavourable Recovering English Nature 22/09/2004 01/07/2006 3 3.12 Unfavourable Recovering English Nature 19/01/2006 01/07/2006 4 10.79 Unfavourable Recovering English Nature 22/09/2004 01/07/2006 5 1.36 Destroyed English Nature 19/01/2006 01/07/2006 Gentleshaw 3 69.23 Unfavourable Recovering English Nature 03/11/2003 01/07/2006 Common 4 11.24 Unfavourable Recovering English Nature 23/01/2006 01/07/2006 River Mease 1 5.93 Unfavourable No Change English Nature 16/08/2000 01/07/2006 Biddulphs Pool 7 1.29 Unfavourable recovering English Nature 18/07/2001 01/07/2006 8 2.74 Favourable English Nature 10/05/2000 01/07/2006

22

• There has been a steady increase in the area of Sites of Biological Interest (SBI) and Biodiversity Alert Sites (BAS) since 1995.

• The drop in the number of individual SBI sites is mainly due to the merging of sites to make larger ones and the downgrading of some sites to BAS’s.

• Only two SBI’s and one BAS site in this period have been lost, the area has gained an SBI.

• The area of Green Belt has remained the same since the 1998 Local Plan

• The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) at Cannock Chase has remained the same since designated in 1958.

• Of the four assessments carried out on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) this monitoring year, two had not changed and two are now recovering which indicates an improvement in their condition.

Landscape

Table 37: Landscape Local Indicator 8f: Present Situation Targets Contribute to proportion of management plan, the annual To protect and enhance Achieving schemes in the action plan and review of work Cannock Chase AONB Action Plan undertaken. Chair working group and joint committee. Local Indicator 8g: To contribute to the Contribution to forest BAP implementation of the Annual Report produced targets National Forest strategy Local Indicator 8h: Contribution to FOM’s own To contribute to the Funding last year amounted to targets for woodland planting, implementation of the £17,000 from the District management and access Forest of Mercia Plan Council improvements Local Indicator 8i: To contribute to the strategy Project in early stages. The for the Cannock Chase to Council is committed to the Contribution to achieving Sutton Park Biodiversity development of this strategy Enhancement Area programme. Local Indicator 8j: In the process of providing Active Involvement with the To promote the Central enhanced Tame and Trent steering of this project and Rivers Initiative Vision wetlands and washlands achieving targets associated habitats. with Lichfield District. Local Indicator 8k: Involved heavily with taking recently produced action plan forward. Key themes include: Active involvement with the To contribute towards the Maximising M6 toll S106 for steering of this project and implementation of the Green landscape and recreation achieving targets associated Arc Project improvements and undertake with Lichfield District research into environmentally sustainable development.

23

Tree Preservation

Table 38: Tree Preservation Local Indicator 8l: Present Figures Targets Tree Preservation Orders 16 new TPO’s N/A Local Indicator 8m: Applications for works in See Table N/A Conservation Areas Local Indicator 8n: Number of Prosecutions for 2 N/A tree damage

• The successful prosecutions we brought to court were for cutting down a protected tree without permission and wilful damage of trees during the construction of houses, both in Little Aston

Table 39: Works on Trees No of Applications for Location works in Conservation Areas Alrewas 12 Colton 3 Elford 3 Fazeley 3 Harlaston 1 Hints 2 Kings Bromley 2 Little Aston 21 Lichfield 20 Mavesyn Ridware 2 Shenstone 6 Whittington 12 Wigginton 1 Total 88

• There was a slight reduction in the number of new tree preservation orders served this year but the District now has 353 Tree Preservation Orders.

• There were 88 applications for works on trees this year with none refused. This was an increase of 6 applications on last year. The process of engaging with owners before an application is submitted accounts for the record of permitting all applications.

24

Key findings

• Lichfield District is heavily involved with many different projects and organisations to promote and protect our natural environment.

• Some sites of interest and importance have been lost, particularly Sites of Biological Interest.

• There is a need for more transparency with organisations to establish how the Council’s financial contributions are being spent, particularly with regards to the Forest of Mercia and the Green Arc project.

There is a need for policies and targets to be reviewed as part of LDF preparation. This will seek more specific targets for biodiversity and a clearer monitoring framework.

Actions

• To continue to establish sustainable management of the Council’s own land for its biodiversity value, including entering and implementing stewardship schemes

• To promote schemes that give financial incentives to farmers if they implement greener measures; keeping hedgerows and introducing buffer rows, for example.

• Another positive step is the grant from DEFRA to undertake stewardship schemes on the council owned Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

• Contribute where possible with partners to secure wider coverage of up to date information on habitats.

• To liaise with relevant partners to seek greater clarity on the use of LDC contributions.

25 Renewable Energy

Core Output Indicator 9

Table 40: Renewable Energy Core Output Indicator 9: Present Situation Renewable energy capacity installed by There have been no renewable energy type measures installed

• Since the end of the monitoring year, an application has been submitted for four Solar Panels on Gainsborough Farm, Stonnall.

Actions

• The Council will develop an effective system to monitor renewable energy installation in new homes.

• To develop policy in the context of emerging national guidance through the Local Development Framework to provide targets for renewable energy in new developments

Tourism

Local Indicator 10

Lichfield is a popular destination for tourists particularly day visitors, due to the distinct character of the District. Lichfield City itself offers rich history and architecture and attractions including the Cathedral and the Erasmus Darwin museum, alongside pleasant local parks and specialist shops. Outside the city, visitors can enjoy a trip to Drayton Manor Theme Park or visit the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas. These attractions along with numerous festivals throughout the year provide an important factor in the local economy.

A number of local indicators are proposed to monitor this industry. However, the figures will not be available until next years report.

Actions

We intend to record the:

• Number of visitors to the District

• Length of stay

• Visitor spending in the local economy

• New hotel bedrooms completed or committed

• The principal mode of transport for arriving in Lichfield

26 The Historic Environment

Local Indicator 11

Lichfield is home to many historic and listed buildings and conservation areas forming a significant part of the Districts heritage and attraction and it is therefore important that they are maintained and improved.

The Council has included significant funding for Conservation Area improvements within its Capital Strategy and is preparing major improvements to Lichfield City Centre?. Three Conservation Area Appraisals are in the process of being drafted. Full coverage of all the Districts Conservation Areas with up to date appraisals however will be a longer process.

Table 41: Historical Environment Local Indicator 11a: Present Situation Targets Buildings at risk survey 6 Reduce buildings on the list Local Indicator 11b: Conservation Area All 23 to be completed by 2-3 by Apr ‘07 appraisals completed 2011 Local Indicator 11c: Conservation area To be informed through improvement schemes 1 appraisal works completed

• The conservation area appraisals will run on a five year rolling programme that was set up this year

• The scheme carried out was the renovation of a cast iron directional sign at Longdon Green in January 2006

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GLOSSARY

Affordable Housing - Housing provided with subsidy both for rent and shared ownership, for people who are unable to resolve their housing requirements in the general housing market, because of the relationship between local housing costs and incomes. See separate definitions for ‘social housing’, ‘shared equity housing’ and ‘low cost market housing’.

Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) - A report submitted to Government by local planning authorities or regional planning bodies assessing Local Development Framework or Regional Spatial Strategy production progress and policy effectiveness.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – Created by the national parks and access to countryside act in 1949 to preserve and enhance its natural beauty. Smaller than a national park and not managed in the same way, but it does give local planning authorities the power to operate some development control.

Biodiversity - The whole variety of life encompassing all genetics, species and ecosystem variations, including plants and animals.

Biodiversity Alert Site (BAS) – Best remaining example of semi natural habitat represented at a District level.

Conservation Area - Areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character, appearance or setting of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Density - In the case of residential development, a measurement of either the number of habitable rooms per hectare or the number of dwellings per hectare.

Development Plan Documents (DPDs) - DPDs are Local Development Documents that have development plan status. Once adopted, development control decisions must be made in accordance with them unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The DPDs which local planning authorities must prepare include the core strategy, site-specific allocations of land and, where needed, area action plans. There will also be a proposals map, which illustrates the spatial extent of policies that must be prepared and maintained to accompany all DPDs. All DPDs must be subject to rigorous procedures of community involvement, consultation and independent examination, and adopted after receipt of the inspector’s binding report.

Flood Risk Assessment - An assessment of the likelihood of flooding in a particular area so that development needs and mitigation measures can be carefully considered.

Footfall – The number of people walking past a given place in a set length of time. Normally used for retail surveys.

General Quality Assessment (GQA) – The Environment Agency’s method for classifying the water quality of river and canals.

Greenfield Land or Site - Land (or a defined site) which has never been built on before or where the remains of any structure or activity have blended into the landscape over time.

Habitat - The natural home of an animal or plant. Often designated as an area of nature conservation interest.

Infrastructure - The physical features (for example roads, rails, and stations) that make up the transport network.

Lichfield District Resident Survey – A report produced by Lichfield District Council that reflects resident’s views on topics such as their area of residence, Council Services and the Council Customer Service.

Local Development Documents (LDDs) - These include Development Plan Documents, which will form part of the statutory development plan, and Supplementary Planning Documents, which do not form part of the statutory development plan. LDDs collectively deliver the spatial planning strategy for the local planning authority's area, and they may be prepared jointly between local planning authorities.

28 Local Development Framework (LDF) - The local development framework is a non-statutory term used to describe a folder of documents, which includes all the local planning authority's local development documents (comprised of development plan documents, which will form part of the statutory development plan, and supplementary planning documents). The local development framework will also comprise the statement of community involvement, the local development scheme and the annual monitoring report.

Local Development Scheme (LDS) - The local planning authority’s time-scaled programme for the preparation of Local Development Documents that must be agreed with Government and reviewed every year.

Local Plan - An old-style development plan prepared by District and other Local Planning Authorities. These plans will continue to operate for a time after the commencement of the new development plan system, by virtue of specific transitional provisions.

Low Cost Market Housing - Small housing units provided without subsidy to meet the needs of households with income levels just adequate to access the housing market.

Mixed use (or mixed use development)- Provision of a mix of complementary uses, such as say residential, community and leisure uses, on a site or within a particular area.

Nature Conservation - The protection, management and promotion of wildlife habitat for the benefit of wild species, as well as the communities that use and enjoy them.

Open Space - All space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs, which can offer opportunities for sport and recreation. They can also act as a visual amenity and a haven for wildlife.

Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) - Issued by central Government setting out its national land use policies for England on different areas of planning. These are being replaced by Planning Policy Statements

Planning Policy Statement (PPS) - Issued by central Government to replace the existing Planning Policy Guidance notes, in order to provide greater clarity and to remove from national policy advice on practical implementation, which is better expressed as guidance rather than policy.

Previously Developed Land (PDL) or ‘Brownfield’ land - Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings), and associated fixed surface infrastructure. The definition covers the curtilage of the development. Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 “Housing” has a detailed definition.

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) - A strategy for how a region should look in 15 to 20 years time, and possibly longer. It identifies the scale and distribution of new housing in the region, indicates areas for regeneration, expansion or sub- regional planning and specifies priorities for the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals and waste treatment and disposal. The West Midlands Regional Planning Guidance (RPG 11), approved June 2004, is now considered RSS and forms part of the development plan. The RPB has commenced a partial review of the RSS.

Renewable Energy - Energy produced from a sustainable source that avoids the depletion of the earth’s finite natural resources, such as oil or gas. Sources in use or in development include energy from the sun, wind, hydro-power, ocean energy and biomass.

Retail Floorspace - Total floor area of the property that is associated with all retail uses. Usually measured in square metres.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC) – European designation for sites of conservational importance that can only be achieved once the area has been designated as a SSSI.

Site of Biological Importance (SBI) – Best remaining example of a semi natural habitat represented at a County level.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - A site identified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as incorporated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) as an area of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features (basically, plants, animals, and natural features relating to the Earth’s structure). 29

Sustainable Development - A widely used definition drawn up by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987: "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". The Government has set out four aims for sustainable development in its strategy “A Better Quality of Life, a Strategy for Sustainable Development in the UK”. The four aims, to be achieved at the same time, are: social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; effective protection of the environment; the prudent use of natural resources; and maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.

Sustainable travel / Sustainable Transport - Often meaning walking, cycling and public transport (and in some circumstances “car sharing”), which is considered to be less damaging to the environment and which contributes less to traffic congestion than one-person car journeys.

Tree Preservation Order (TPO) - A mechanism for securing the preservation of single or groups of trees of acknowledged amenity value. A tree subject to an order may not normally be topped, lopped or felled without the consent of the Local Planning Authority.

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